Dealing with Rushing Jumps?

[*JumpIt*]

Hi!

I am hoping for some advice for my (OT)TB mare. She is very green but is learning and though I am not the greatest rider I do have help from a wonderful trainer and we are doing our best.

My mare has recently gone from refusing jumps to getting too overconfident/excited and rushes at them. She is perfect (most of the time) on the flat, usually all I have to do is sit deep and lightly touch the reins to get downward transitions. As so as we begin jumping she gets strong and it is like there is no bit at all.

She is better over single fences but locks in on lines and gymnastics and just wants to go forward.

We are jumping very low (think 2' - 2'6") and we ride in a happy mouth three-ring elevator bit, snaffle ring on the flat and second ring over fences.

Any tips on how to calm down/settle a very happy jumper? I don't want her to start refusing again but I want her to be paying attention to me not just the jump.

(I am working with my trainer w/ these issues but it is always nice to get some more fresh ideas)

I forgot to add that she is wonderful trotting in/out fences and lines, it is just the cantering that we have difficulty in. We try to work on gymnastics once a week or so. This week it was 3 bounces and then a one stride, she is perfect through the gymnastic because she has to be in order to get through it but at the last jump she opens up and wants to gallop away though I always get a halt it takes a whole lot of effort (and sometimes a fence) to make it happen.

[Princess Lauren]

Back wayyyyy up. Start over poles, tiny crossrails. Walk over jumps, then slowly trot. If on the way there she starts to get quick, circle. Don't think about aiming her at the jumps unless she's quiet before coming out of the corner.

[IsolaBella09]

Teach her 'whoa'. Circle in between lines if you need to. Think jumping is flatwork with obstacles in the way. Practice over ground poles. Shorten the feet in between gymnastics fences so she learns to balance herself up and can't run you through the fences. Halt in between lines. Canter in, trot out.

Also, my horse used to go in a happy mouth elevator and he would really rush his jumps and get fussy with his head. I switched him into a happy mouth jointed loose ring, and he's a dream. Stays round, balanced, and waits for me to tell him when to jump. I'm still amazed how much changing his bit worked for us. Just a thought.

[Aven]

Often rushing is NOT a sign of confidence. Rushing through is often panic. If a horse goes from refusing to rushing its usually a sign the horse is till not confident.

I too recommend going back making sure the horse is calm and balanced before moving on. Many people interpret young horses with going fast as enthusiasm and say their horse loves jumping. If you turn your horse loose in the arena and it runs around jumping the jumps.. then yes your horse loves it. If your horse when loose avoids all jumps when running around, they likely do not. (I have owned one horse that would seek out jumps and jump them even when he was faar to young to jump. When he did start jumping undersaddle is got strong towards jumps but never rushed)

[Dixon]

Aven is right, that rushing is a sign of panic, not necessarily confidence. Have you caught your horse in the mouth, sat back down in the saddle too early, legged her off the ground, landed and abruptly pulled on her mouth to get her to slow down, or any combination of those things? You're using an AWFULLY strong bit, so any closing of your fingers, let alone pulling back, is magnified like power steering. Especially if, as it sounds from your post, you are using only a leverage ring while jumping, instead of giving her the benefit of the doubt by using the snaffle rein while jumping. It may be hurting her, and she's trying to get the jumping overwith quickly, to shorten the amount of time it hurts. By the same token, could she be physically sore anywhere?

A green horse needs an expert ride all the time. Maybe you need to leave the jumping to your trainer for a while. And it sounds like your horse needs gymnastics every time she jumps, not just once a week. That's normal for a green horse. Don't be in a rush to canter any fences whatsoever.

[*JumpIt*]

We have gone through the rushing because of nerves and this seems different. Before when she would rush she would want to just through herself away over the fence and now she jumps better just fast and wants to open up after the fence rarely does she rush up to a single fence.

Some times I do think the rushing is because she is uncertain where to put her feet but it doesn't feel like she is nervous or scared.

Ironically she does jump herself when free-jumping and pointed at a jump, rarely is there any hesitation.

I have seen no signs of pain but it is always a possibility. I usually over-exaggerate my release in order to not hit her in the mouth but I won't claim to be perfect.

Thanks for all of the great comments/advice, I have plenty to think about and explore.

[ToolTime]

We have gone through the rushing because of nerves and this seems different. Before when she would rush she would want to just through herself away over the fence and now she jumps better just fast and wants to open up after the fence rarely does she rush up to a single fence.

Some times I do think the rushing is because she is uncertain where to put her feet but it doesn't feel like she is nervous or scared.


Maybe she is not feeling so balanced or comfortable after the jump (with the rider). Perhaps it would be best to go way back to basics in her jumping training with just the trainer for a while. That way she can build a solid sense of confidence before dealing with the inevitable bobbles that a less experienced rider sometimes will throw at her.

[Dixon]

Yeah, and consider whether exaggerating your release is worrying your mare. When you reach way up the neck to put lots of slack in the reins, your body follows. So you're in front of her center of gravity. Then upon landing, as you anticipate her galloping away, you sit up and pull back abruptly on the reins to slow her down. So you've gone from zero contact and pushing your upper body at her, to abrupt contact on a curb rein. She's probably running away from your hands.

[Aven]

We have gone through the rushing because of nerves and this seems different. Before when she would rush she would want to just through herself away over the fence and now she jumps better just fast and wants to open up after the fence rarely does she rush up to a single fence.

Some times I do think the rushing is because she is uncertain where to put her feet but it doesn't feel like she is nervous or scared.

Ironically she does jump herself when free-jumping and pointed at a jump, rarely is there any hesitation.

I have seen no signs of pain but it is always a possibility. I usually over-exaggerate my release in order to not hit her in the mouth but I won't claim to be perfect.

Thanks for all of the great comments/advice, I have plenty to think about and explore.

Not if you point them at a jump. If your horse loves jumping they would run around and take the ones in the middle of the arena :D I have had 2 that would do that.

Could be lack of balance. Horses rushing after the fence(s) are often unbalanced and falling on their forehands. It could still be nerves. We had a tb here that had been an event horse and some how a successful trillium horse who rushed like no other. The previous trainer wouldn't agree it was nerves. Took the horse back to trotting poles and little grids. Built him back up. etc etc. With him it took a long time as he had such a history of jumping fast and flat. But 5 months later he could flow through a gymnastic. He was sold before we got to courses but I am confident he would have learned to relax and balance through a course again.

edited to add. This horse had been in a pelham. We took him back to a snaffle and worked on the flat till he was soft and supple. A horse that is rushing through fear or lack of balance does not need to be punished in the mouth for something they can't change. (I hunt in a pelham and do have some fun bits.. but NEVER on greenies)

[*JumpIt*]

As much as I'd like to have a real trainer work with her my trainer just had a baby and I can't afford any of the local ones.

So I should work on keeping my balance after the jump, stay in the two point and canter away then *gently* sit down and *quietly* ask her to come back down to the trot and then lots of praise. Basically stay out of her way and let her figure it out for herself?

I know you all said to go back down to just flat work but she is very good on the flat, canters over poles nicely, is ajustable between poles. We play with lateral work (shoulders-in, leg yield, haunches in, ect.) and in general is very quiet and willing.

[CaliforniaSyndrome]

Growing up I had exactly what you had, and started the way yours did as well. Stopped, then got over stopping and started rushing. Lucky for you, you realize this isn't the only way! When I was 12 it was ok by me, shows how little I knew.

When I moved, what helped me was ONE lesson, said ONE time "relax". Are you relaxing, no really, relaxing! Have you ever barebackrd your horse in a halter? I know that's a random question, and maybe not totally acceptable to do at your barn, but when I was a kid I did it often. My horse was calm, relaxed, didn't rush etc... Because I was relaxing, I was having fun, my mind wasn't in game mode.

Relax!

Try putting yourself in your horses shoes! Next time there's a sale in the jean department at Bloomies and all you care about is the few pair of True Religion jeans left, see how slowly you can convince yourself to walk as everyone passes you heading for the True Religion rack!

[Aven]

One thing that can help. If your horse can canter poles with NO change of rhythm and stay soft and accepting of the bit, then if you have a large enough area (30m at least wide) I would set up a 18 inch jump just to the inside of a large at least 30m circle. I would then develop a nice rhythmic soft canter.. around and around and around... plop over the jump and go around and around no jump.. making sure your horse can canter in and out with the same easy flow as on the flat. Once you can do that with one fence.. and I mean NO CHANGE in pace or rhythm! Then add poles.. then make the poles into jumps.



I do have other things I have done with rushy horses but it takes a very balanced rider....

[*JumpIt*]

Do you think it would be a good or bad idea to try riding her in a hackamore? The more I think about it I do believe it is anticipation for a lot of presure in her mouth right after the jump that causes her to rush. I am sure she also feels some of my nerves, I am completly confident on the flat and over trot fences and smaller jumps but I get a bit nervous/tense when doing more, she does not rush when free-jumped at all.

I am just so frustrated with myself because I know what to do it is just a matter of making my body do it.

I am going to work on the circle idea tommorrow, I'll set up 4 poles on the large circle (equal distances apart apx. 2-3 strides in between), first we'll work on the lunge line.
First trot through the four ground poles, then canter them.
Then make one pole a cross-rail, trot the circle first then canter it.
If quiet make another pole a jump, same thing - trot then canter.
So on and so forth until cantering all four jumps quietly both directions.

Next day I'll ride her through the same exercise, never moving on til the next step til quiet at the previous one.

I will have to be quiet and let her figure things out on her own, my only job is to steer and to keep a *light* contact, its her job to worry about the jumps. Since it will be on a circle there is no "end" to the gymnastic to run out of and always another obstical to pay attention to.

Anything else I should keep in mind?

Thanks for all the wonderful help everyone!

[JumpWithPanache]

My green bean has tended to land and rush away from lack of balance. I've used the circle with poles exercise and correct placement poles before and after a fence. Both exercises have really helped her understand that it's land and use your butt, not land and fly. Mine loves to jump too, after the first fence in any session she starts hunting and will measure up anything you leave her shoulders square to for more than two or three strides. And yes she jumps things for fun, has even figured out that she can jump out of paddocks.

[zahena]

I just finished reading 101 Jumping Exercises for Horse and Rider. I have a "rusher" and I found that the circling afterwards really makes a difference. Make her circle at the same gait until she's calm, then make her trot until she's calm and then jump again.

I had this issue last night with a student and her horse would trot to the jump, break out into a hand gallop a stride away, jump it and then we'd circle and circle and he'd be nice again, and then jump his last fence. Funny but he'd only rush from one corner. At the end of the hour lesson he was FINALLY sweet again, cantered in, cantered out.

I've tried the walking fence with my horse. He could care less. I found the only thing that cures my boy from rushing away from the fence is to make it something he can't step over. Crossrails, he's bored and he pulls them every time. Give him a jump where all 4 feet are airborne and he's totally different!

[Spud&Saf]

Do you think it would be a good or bad idea to try riding her in a hackamore? The more I think about it I do believe it is anticipation for a lot of presure in her mouth right after the jump that causes her to rush. I am sure she also feels some of my nerves, I am completly confident on the flat and over trot fences and smaller jumps but I get a bit nervous/tense when doing more, she does not rush when free-jumped at all.

I am just so frustrated with myself because I know what to do it is just a matter of making my body do it.

I am going to work on the circle idea tommorrow, I'll set up 4 poles on the large circle (equal distances apart apx. 2-3 strides in between), first we'll work on the lunge line.
First trot through the four ground poles, then canter them.
Then make one pole a cross-rail, trot the circle first then canter it.
If quiet make another pole a jump, same thing - trot then canter.
So on and so forth until cantering all four jumps quietly both directions.

Next day I'll ride her through the same exercise, never moving on til the next step til quiet at the previous one.

I will have to be quiet and let her figure things out on her own, my only job is to steer and to keep a *light* contact, its her job to worry about the jumps. Since it will be on a circle there is no "end" to the gymnastic to run out of and always another obstical to pay attention to.

Anything else I should keep in mind?

Thanks for all the wonderful help everyone!


I would start with less than that. I would work on the one jump on the circle as Aven suggested, then progress to very simple gymnastics down the long side before moving to that type of exercise.

Personally, I think what you have suggested requires a lot of balance/concentration and is not really going to help you to get to your goal of relaxed and flowing.

[tBHj]

Set up a 5 stride with cross rails. Right beside it set poles on the ground at the same distance as the jumping line.

Start with trotting the poles and halting in the middle of the 'pole line' and then trotting away. Mix it up and sometimes trot right through the poles, stop before the first pole and then trot through or trot through and stop after the poles.

Then canter the poles. Do the halting exercises from the canter. Add strides in the line etc.

When you can canter through the poles steady canter around to the cross rail line, transition to the trot.. jump the first jump and halt in the centre. Trot to the second jump. Do basically the same things you would over the poles on the ground.

Don't worry about height because a) you may have to do quite a few jumping efforts in a ride b) if you can't do the small stuff steady making the jumps bigger usually won't change anything and c) in this case you're worrying about the ride to, between & from the jumps.. not the actual jumping.

[zahena]

Ooooh! I like this exercise!

[GettingBack]

I'll second Aven's response. I've rehabbed several confirmed rushers using the "jump on a circle" method. You have to stay absolutely calm about it, which is great because the circle keeps both of you focused - the horse can't gallop off, you just have to focus on staying on the circle.

[fordtraktor]

If he is worried about getting hit in the mouth after the fence, sit up on landing so he doesn't get heavy, but slip him a little rein. Count to three on landing before picking your reins softly.

Some horses don't care for you to reestablish contact right away. Mine will get worried, rush, and/or buck if his rider has an overactive hand upon landing. Once he realizes you aren't going to pop him in the mouth AFTER the jump, he will improve if that's the problem.

Of course, if his rushing stems from other sources this practice will not be effective.

[Dixon]

Do you think it would be a good or bad idea to try riding her in a hackamore?

Not really. Just take her out of the leverage bit, and put her in a plain old gentle snaffle. No need to swing from the extreme of a leverage bit all the way to "no bit." Leverage bits, especially three-rings, are very strong, but used too often and without enough thought.

[ctina81]

I would say to definitely go back to a mild bit. Instead of over exaggerating your release (which is probably making you both off balance), grab mane! I've known plenty of professionals that still grab mane when they're on a green horse and they're not sure how they're going to jump. How is your position over the jump? Are you gripping with your knees? The more solid your position is, the better your horse is going to go for you. If you are that unstable, you should go back to the basics and just work on you for a while. Riding without stirrups, 2 pt., etc. Once you get more secure, you will be better able to help your horse. And you may be suprised to find that some of the problem will go away. Also, how do you ride to the jump? Can you see a distance very well? Are you making it easy for your horse to get down the line? Make sure youre not pulling to the jump, or changing your mind a stride or 2 out. Try to stay consistant.....
Gymnastics are great. There are some good books out there if you need some ideas. They will help your horse get more confidence, balance and be more adjustable. Sometimes they rush because they don't know how to open there stride up down the line. Gymnastics will help with that. Circling after is good. You want them to give you a nice canter before you stop. Stopping is a reward. Remember to praise him when he does good!

[Mai Tai]

I have had the same problem with my horse. We haven't completely fixed the issue but he's come a long way after a lot of trial and error. I totally agree with what Aven posted. It sounds like your horse (and mine) is nervous and the rushing is more panic than over-confidence. The two major things that have helped my horse are: #1 improving the balance of his canter on the flat, including shortening and lengthening his stride, circles, transitions, etc. The better he got with that, the better and more relaxed he was cantering jumps (he also was fine with trotting fences and not rushing). #2 jump the fence on a circle so that you are making a short turn to it and then after it. This doesn't give them a long time to worry about and anticipate the fence, because after the turn, the fence is right there, and after the fence you're turning again so he/she can't really run. After cantering the fence on a circle for a little while, he would relax and I'd make a larger and larger circle to the point where eventually we made the regular turn toward the fence from the end of the ring. Obviously you don't want to drill this for too long and you may want to spread it out over consecutive lessons/weeks. I also agree with the suggestion of circling out of a line if the horse is rushing - same idea as circling to the single. Mix it up so the horse doesn't always know where you're going and then he/she has to listen, wait, and trust. I also agree with the suggestion to jump poles for a while until there is no rushing. You can do the circling thing described above with poles first. I also make sure that I have a very relaxed canter before jumping - establish the canter first, which might take a few laps, then jump. Repeat if he/she starts to take over at the canter. Hope this helps - good luck!

[spmoonie]

My trainer has us halt on a straight line after EVERY jump at first. Once they start getting better, sometimes we continue on after the jump, sometimes we stop on a straight line. We also do lots of trot jumps, then halt. The thing that has worked best for my boy is lunging in side reins. It has taught him to accept the bit, not fight it. It has been like magic. Literally, one day we were racing around the courses at mach 5, then after lunging, we were trotting jumps, and doing courses like an AA quality hunter.:winkgrin: